good read

I'm a pretty big fan of bad TV, but I'm an even bigger fan of people who enjoy it like me. Even if you don't watch these awful shows, you should check out TV Watch section on Entertainment Weekly's website. I really like most of their articles, actually.

Here is a recent post from this week's episode of The Bachelor. I've found the more terrible the show, the better the article.

I particularly like the Grey's Anatomy, The Bachelor, American Idol, and America's Next Top Model's recaps.

hope

So, today was a pretty awesome day. Even though I didn't get a chance to watch the inauguration due to work and meetings, I was excited the entire day. During my workout at lunch I looked up on the TV screen and saw the Obama's walking the Bush's to the helicopter. Then as George Dubya stepped into that helicopter waved his last goodbye, and shut the door, I felt relieved. I think most of the country did.

I'm excited about the possibility of change. It's about time.

I'm proud to be an 'Merican.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a merry holiday! (Please excuse the not so cute face)

Fit.

Today I started my new fitness regime. Yep, I'm working out. And I have a semi-personal trainer. And a work out plan. Apparently I need to lower my body fat, and my BMI indicates that I am slightly overweight. Also, Curry (my personal trainer) says I have noodles for arms. The plan is to lose 11 pounds, but I'm shooting for 15. And I'd like to do more than 10 pushups.

Since my life isn't a big whirlwind of long-term relationships coming to an end, back to start then back to an end again AND I am not at a job where I am under an extreme amount of stress and pressure, my stomach likes to eat again. And it likes to eat a lot. Seems as if you don't have a bit knot tied up in it from stress and being upset there's room for food. I guess I'm fat and happy, but not for long. I refuse to buy all new clothes, and I refuse to continue to be a lazy bum.

Also, another change in my life will my my financial situation. The achievable goal is to pay off my credit card by March/April. My reward will be to take the money spent on paying credit cards and put it towards a trip to PORTLAND!

I'll let you all know how I'm coming with getting physically and financially fit.

put a ring on it

If I had one wish right now it wouldn't be to win the lottery, go on a month-long trip through Europe, world peace, or even to get this country out of this economic mess. Nope, it would be to be able to move like Beyonce in this video.

Call me selfish. I don't even care. ARE YOU WATCHING THESE MOVES?!?! Hot damn.

bss is for lovers

I'd just like to announce to everyone that I AM GOING TO SEE BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE!!!

Holy shit, I can't believe it. The boyfriend and I will venture to Dallas January 30 and get our minds blow. I can't fucking wait.

This will be my third time seeing them and Aaron's first. I'm popping that BSS cherry of his, and it's going to be incredible.

Seriously. Go see them if you get the chance. You won't regret it.

Whatever happened to my lunch box?

The past few days I have been listening to a lot of old school John Mayer. Freshman year of college, anyone? These songs are just so dang good, and it has me on a major nostagic kick. I just want to jam to some Coldplay, Howie Day, and maybe some Guster thrown in there. Listening to John sing about St. Patrick's Day and 3x5s makes me think about morning naps between class, George Forman grilled ham and cheese, Ruffles and French onion dip, and singing Tenacious D the entire way to Lafayette.



This was SIX years ago.

sign me up.

Recently I have become OBSESSED with staying in an overwater hut in Bora Bora. Did you hear me? OBSESSED. First I need to pay off my credit card, visit my Kate in Portland, move to Austin THEN save up enough money for Bora Bora.

OR.

You could pay for the vacation.

Please? Thanks so much!

happy things

Fall.
The O.C. marathons -- Caaallliiiffooooorrrrnnniiaaaaaa here we coooooooooome.
Spending too much money at Old Navy.
New job.
Death Cab for Cutie.
Ned and Chuck.
Sunday picnics.
Hand holding.
Moose tracks ice cream.
Cowboy boots.
Leggings.
Cardigans.
PJs before 9:00 a.m.
Relationship blankets.
Pumpkins.
Cheese spread.
Cafeteria salads.
Ruffles - chips and fashion enhancement.
Boys in sweaters.
BBQ sandwiches.
Beasts.
And his face.

holy crap

About a month ago I made the biggest decision of my life. I decided to quit my job of almost 2 years.

I had never been completely happy with my job, and in recent months I was growing to hate it. I was completely stressed out, and I didn't feel like I was doing good enough. I tried really hard, but it was never good enough. And honestly I didn't care. I wasn't passionate about it.

The stress was taking over me. From the moment I woke up until the moment I fell asleep I was stressed. I'd wake up with a terrible knot in my stomach. I'd go to sleep with that same knot. I'd try to forget about work at night and on the weekends, but the anxiety took over.

I was expected to work late hours and come in early (on my last week there I came in at 6:00 in the morning -- wish I was kidding). I know it may seem like I had the worst job ever. I didn't. It's a really good job, but it wasn't for me. I wasn't willing to make my job my life. I didn't want to make the scarifices.

So, I looked for something, anything else to do. I found a job. They hired me.

Then I almost shit my pants. Was I making the right decision? Would I like this new position? What if they are mean? Am I going to be good enough? When will I get paid? Ahhhh!

I mean I worked for amazing people who really cared about me and my well being, but they didn't know how unahppy I was. I walked down the hallway, shut my boss' door and let it all out. I told her I was offered a new job, and I would be leaving in 2 weeks and how unhappy I had been. I explained how I didn't feel successful and I wasn't passionate about my work. I was letting my clients down, my bosses down, and myself down. She completely understood and said she wanted me to be happy and thanked me for being so honest.

Two weeks later I started my new job. It's not my dream job (ACL Fest are y'all hiring?), but it's work that I think I can be successful at. And I am really enjoying it. That's all I really need right now.

lights out

You never realize how much you rely on electricity until you lose it. I guess it's like that with most things. But electricity is seriously amazing. I am so glad that after 2ish days of no lights, AC, Internet, refrigerator, blow dryer, straightener, washing machine, and dryer, my life can get back to normal. I am not going to take this shit for granted. No more washing my face by candle light and holding a flashlight on my chest to be able to read my totally awesome book, Stori Telling by Tori Spelling (shut up, I like it).

Now, I am going to fully enjoy my electricity by watching The Hills (shut up again), surf the Internet, and sit in my 70 degree house.

explanation?

I've experienced a shit ton of emotions the past month. Happy, sad, scared, anxious, nervous, loved, silly, fun, flirty, etc.

I feel it all, I feel it all as Miss Feist would say. I wish I could explain all of them in words on here, but some of them are too private and some this is just not the place.

I haven't forgotten you blogger world. Just trying to think of the words to describe what's been going on both good and bad (most of it pretty fucking amazing).

I'll be back soon, boos.

<3

Emoticon

I can't stop smiling. Can't stop it.

:)

so, i met someone.

And I think he's pretty awesome. He's funny, kind, thoughtful, smart, friendly, an excellent listener, and not a douche bag. He's tall, dark, handsome, and plays the guitar. He makes me smile pretty much every hour of the day. What more could a girl ask for, right?

Well, there is more. He sings the boy parts in Mates of State songs while I sing the girl parts. He likes Wilco and Broken Social Scene almost (ok maybe just as much) as I do. He understands my undying love for Jeff Tweedy and is ok with it.

He opens doors, buys my ice cream when I've had a bad day, and holds my hand. He picks me up for dates and doesn't mind that most dates include my friends.

He hates spiders but isn't afraid of roaches. Good thing spiders don't scare me, but just the mention of a roach and I am completely freaked out.

He is probably the only person on this planet that can touch my feet without tickling them.

He has the friendliest smile I have ever seen, and he does this thing with his mouth when he doesn't know what to say that is so adorable it makes me want to die. He says cute things like "gnarly punk band" and "So when can I call you my girlfriend." He sends me vomit worthy text messages every day and put me as his #1 friend on myspace.

He puts his hands in my hair/face when he kisses me, and it took him forever to finally grab my ass (sorry JJ and Matty!).

He claims he won't take me to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Part 2, but I know if I really wanted him to, he would. Just as long as I would promise to watch some horribly gross horror movie with him.

But the best part is that he thinks I'm pretty dang amazing too.

Yeah, I think I'll keep him around for a while.

all you gotta do it beach it up!

This week the Marshall fam is taking a vacation to Orange Beach. We will be here until Sunday. Already it's an amazing trip. AND two of my best friends from high school who I never see anymore are down here on vacation too. Amazing. Right now I am blogging from the balcony looking out on the beach. I hope to blog a lot from the beach with family quotes, what's been going on in my life, and to just be all up in your face.

It's going to be a good week.

Hakuna Matata

I pretty much love my life right now. It's amazing. I'm pretty stoked about how things are going, and I have been for some time now. Now, because you love it so much, a list of things that have contributed to me being oh, so happy.

Bartlett Pear candles from Bath and Body Works.
Late-night text messages.
Hazelnut iced-coffees from McDonald's even though they sometimes make my tummy hurt.
Spin the Pen.
Tuna salad, always and forever.
Saturday night Sprite runs/middle of nowhere drives.
Summer time.
Swings.
Getting $400 phones for free because you have the hook up.
Head scarves.
Eyeliner.
Kathy Griffin.
Mates of State.
This movie.
KFC.


Oh, and last but not least the return of Boyz II Men in my life.

dead, dead, dead

I dropped my phone in Kool Aid tonight. And I am pretty sure it's a gonner. Please email your phone number to me at jordan21@gmail.com if you want me ever call you again.

RIP Palm Centro.

Aloha

Last Thursday afternoon my phone rings:

"How much do you love me?"

"Umm ... Wait, are you driving?"

"I'm in Alabama."

"Are you coming to see MEEEEEEE?!"

"I'm dropping of Lindsay at my parents' and thinking about coming to Shreveport on Sunday to see some friends."

And he did. And the four of us drank Superior margs just like but not really at all like old times.

Have fun in Hawaii, friend.

At least I didn't fall this time.

I saw Radiohead last night. Did you get that? I saw RADIOHEAD last night. It was amazing. I'll admit it, I am not the biggest Radiohead fan. Emily Turner, on the other hand, is. Do you know how awesome it is to experience a show like Radiohead with someone who enjoys Radiohead as much at Miss Turner does? I can't even explain it.

Here is the set list I found of all the songs they played last night. Go on, be jealous.
All I Need
There There
15 Step
Bangers and Mash
Nude
Pyramid Song
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The National Anthem
Dollars and Cents
Faust Arp
Videotape, A Wolf At The Door
Optimistic
Reckoner
Everything In Its Right Place
Idioteque
Bodysnatchers

Encore:
Fake Plastic Trees
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
House of Cards, Exit Music (For A Film)
The Bends

Encore 2 (that's right, they played two encores):
You and Whose Army?
Paranoid Android

D.C. to the Max

Last Monday I returned from Washington D.C. where I saw one of my favorite faces on the planet, Miss LeAnn Russell. She moved up there in January and since she day she left I have missed her desperately.

I was only in D.C. for a few days, but let me just tell you I loved it. Maybe it was because LeAnn lives on G Street, or the fact that there are cute boys in suits walking everywhere, or perhaps that you can do tons of shit for FREE, or all of the Asians all over the place, whatever it is I think I found yet another reason to move to the East Coast.

My love for Asians was born in D.C. Matching bucket hats? Too cute for words.


Also a new hobby of taking pictures of other people's children. Creepy? I think so. Who cares.


Here is a list of fun things KLR and I did in our short time together:
-Ate delicious Mexican food, minus queso -- seriously who doesn't serve queso?

-Got tips and sang/danced our hearts out to 80s and 90s songs. I've blessed the rains down in AAAAAAFFFFRRRRIIIIICCCCAAAAAA!


-Saw the dino bones.


-Almost got trampled over by Anti-Nazis.


-Learned the fine art of asking strangers to take our picture.

-Witnessed a proposal .... and lingered a little longer than appropriate.


-Had a photo session with tulips.


-Fell in love with Abraham Lincoln.


-Got a little emotional at all the memorials, exhibits, wedding proposals.

-Hung out on/near the Capitol steps at night.


-Made up facts about D.C./Asian gardens.

-Discovered the best museum on the planet. It's called the Newseum and you should go to it before you die.


You can check out more pics here.

I can't wait to go back!